Orthopedic walker



May 21, 1957 Filed April IL"! 1953 o. M. SU'NDBERG ORTHOPEDIC WALKER 4Sheets-Sheet l OLLE MMSUNDBERG,

.mmvron nrrae/vik y 21, 1957 o. .M.SUNDBERG 2,792,374

' ORTHOPEDIC WALKER 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 17, 1953 OLLE M. swam,

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Af/UP/VEK May 21, 1957 o. M/SUNDBERG ORTHOPEDIC WALKER 4 Sheets-Sheet 3Filed April 17, 1953 01.1.5 M. SUNOBE'RG,

I INVEN TOR.

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' ORTHOPEDIC WALKER Filed April 17, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ous M.SUNDBERG,

INVEN TOR.

A TTOPI'VEK United States Patent ORTHOPEDIC WALKER Olle M. Sundberg,Hollywood, can. Application April 17, 1953, Serial No. 349,368

7 Claims. (Cl. 155-22) This invention relates to and has for an objectthe provision of a walker adapted for use by persons afflicted withpoliomyelitis, paraplegics and those otherwise disabled, infantslearning to walk, the aged and infirm, for

affording support and guidance during exercise periods in order toincrease circulation of afllicted parts, strengthen the muscles andparticularly to encourage such persons during periods of infancy,infirmity, and convalescence, and develop confidence in an artificialappliance and thereby substantially improve a users condition andcomplete or near restoration to physical standards of health andstrength.

Heretofore, walkers for a like purpose have been used but withoutcomplete success because if a user should slip or stumble during hisprogress over a floor, the appliance was prone to move forwardly underthe suddenly applied weight of the user, thereby causing the user tofall and the appliance to dart away from his or her grasp. Suchoccurrences, even though rare, are possible and could occasion seriousinjury to an afllicted person.

Accordingly, it is a prime object to provide a studied design ofappliance which will not only afiord substantial support for a patientor user in either upright and sitting postures whereby the appliance maybe propelled by the user over a surface by movement of the feetthereover, and by the provision of dependable means incorporated in thestructure, will by brake-like action retard and prevent movement of theappliance by application of excess pressure on the guides, as when thebody of the user should lurch forwardly.

A more specific object is to provide a light weight tubular frame withhandle bars or grips by which the unit may be guided while a user is inupright or sitting position, a suitable running gear including pilot andtraction wheels and a brake mechanism connected with and adapted forautomatic operation when excessive pressure is applied to said bars, soas to frictionally hold the unit against movement.

Another object is to provide a modified form of walker unit adapted foruse by infants learning to walk or who are physically infirm, whileembodying the invention of said adult unit.

A further object of the invention is to provide a walker unit of suchform, structure and simple arrangement that a unit for either adult orinfant use is perfectly safe against possible injury to a user, requiresno special training and securely supports a patient of any age group whois physically unable to walk alone or on crutches, and therefore lendsconfidence and hope to such ones.

Other objects will appear as the description progresses.

The accompanying drawings illustrate three different forms of unitsembodying the invention but it is apparent that the structure may bemodified, within the scope of the appended claims, without departingfrom the spirit of the invention.

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of one form of an adult unit;

guide bars 15 and 16 by tubes 23 and 24 which are either 2,792,874Patented May 21, 1957 Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same; Fig. 3 is afront elevational view; Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are fragmentary sectional viewsof the same on lines 4-4, 5-5 and 6--6 respectively of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of an accessory unit;

Fig. 8 is a bottom plan view of the accessory unit of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary elevational view of connected portions of themain and auxiliary units;

Fig. 10 is a side elevational view of an infant unit;

Fig. 11 is a bottom plan view of the same; and

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of one corner of the infantunit.

Referring first to one form of unit shown in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive,said unit is designed for supporting a patient in standing positionwhereby when the patients feet are moved, however feebly or otherwiseineffectively, the unit will be propelled over a floor under control ofthe patient.

Preferably, in order to provide rigidity and minimum weight the unit isformed of tubular sections firmly secured together and simulates abicycle frame. The base of the frame includes a horizontal front bar 1,a horizontal rear bar 2 paralleling but at a lower level than bar 1,similar coplanar horizontal side bars 3 and 4 joined to the ends of bar1 and bent downwardly at 3' and 4 respectively at their rear ends andjoined to bar 2, and other side bars 5 and 6 pivotally connected at 5and 6 respectively to bars 3 and 4.

Bars 5 and 6 extend rearwardly to substantial uniform points beyond bar2 and have swivel casters 7 and 8, respectively attached as by means ofpivot bolts 9 and 10 and including similar wheels 11, 11. The front endsof bars 4 and 5 also have similar casters 12 and wheels 13 held inpositions by bolts 14.

Guide bars 15 and 16 are hinged to bar 1 at their lower ends at points15 and 16' respectively through suitable fixtures 17, 17 and are crossconnected by a cross bar 15a. A transverse handle bar 18 is secured tothe upper ends of bars 15 and 16 as by means of short sections 19 and 20rigidly secured to bar 18 and telescopically connected with 15 and 16,as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. Bar 18 has rearwardly bent handles orgrips 21, 21 which with bar 18 may be raised and. lowered to desiredelevations and clamped as by a set screw 22 connecting lugs 22' acrossslits (not shown) in one or both of the bars 15 and 16, for locking thehandles in adjusted positions.

Hence, as a user when positioned erectly rearwardly of bar 18 and griphandles 21, movement of his or her body forwardly in actual or attemptedwalking, propels the unit forwardly under control of the user, theswiveled traction wheels 11, 11, 13 and 13 being self aligning for suchmovement. However, if the user for any reason should trip, stumble orlose balance, handles 21 would unconsciously be gripped more tightly andthe body would tend to lurch forwardly and consequently apply forceeither forwardly or downwardly to the unit, Unless the forward movementof the unit in such case were impeded or prevented the unit might bepropelled out of the grasp of the user or at least sufficientlyforwardly to place the user in a position of unbalance and resultantfall and injury.

To prevent such a result the cross bar 2 is linked to fixed or hinged tobar 2 and to bars 15 and 16 as by means of fixtures 25, connections withbars 15 and 16 being preferably hinges.

Thus, when undue pressure for any reason is applied to handles 21, as byweight of a human body, bars 15 and 16 would tend to incline rearwardlyas viewed in Fig. 1

24, tend to move bars 5 and 6 in a counterclockwise direction on theirpintles 5' and 6'. On each of the bars 5 and 6, as shown in detail inFig. 6, there is provided resiliently yieldable connections between saidbars 5 and 6 and bar 2, each of which connections includes an uppermostnipple 26 onto which is screwed a cap 27 for enclosing a spring 28adapted to be compressed between the wall of bar 5 or 6, as the case maybe, and a washer 29 held on the upper end of a stud 34] by nuts 31 and32. Said stud extends through diametrically opposite apertures 33 inbars 5 and, 6 and is threaded at 34 into the inner plugged end 35 of ashort tube 36which in turnis rigidly secured to tube 2. Outwardly oftubes 36 bar 2 has friction shoes 37, 37 depending therefrom forengagement with a supporting surface S, said shoes being secured to tube2 as by means of suitable attaching members 38, 38. Ohviously, as bar 2is depressed by weight applied to bars 18,

.15, 16 and 24 to bar 2, the shoes 37 will be forced into frictionalengagement with supporting surface S and prevent forward movement of theunit to an extent which would occasion a fall of or injury to a user.

The unit shown in Figs. 7 and 8 is accessory to that of Figs. 1 to 3inclusive and is arranged to provide a trailing means for attachment tothe unit of Figs. 1 to 3 for optionally supporting a unit in sittingposture. Said accessory unit includes a rigid tubular frame formed of aU- shaped bottom member 40 with parallel legs 40', 40', substantiallyspaced apart transversely and joined to a pair of transversely spacedupright members ll. having crutch-like arm rests 41' at their upper endsand a single upright member 42 at the rear and centrally between legs40'. Each'leg 40' has a depending nipple 43 integral with or attached toa leg 40' for attachment of a caster fixture 44 carrying a tractionwheel 45. A third traction wheel 46 is borne by a fitting 47 secured toa bracket 48 by means of a section 49 connecting fitting 47 and bracket48.

. As shown in Fig. 9 the unit of Figs. 7 and 8 is attachable to the unitof Figs. 1 and 2 by joining the rear ends of bars 5 and 6 of the mainunit to the front ends of legs 40' of the auxiliary unit with a coupling50 having axially alined sockets 51 and 52 adapted to receive and to beattached to bars 5 and 6 and legs 46' and 40 respectively as by setscrews 53 and 54, or otherwise.

The auxiliary unit has a seat 55 hinged at 56 to a fixture 57 which issecured to upright member 42. Said seat may thus be normally swungdownwardly or when desired "raised to and supported in horizontalposition by a suitably-releasable brace 58. Said brace may be held atits ends in suitable fixture 59 on the lower side of seat 55 and in aslot or aperture in fixture f) in such a manner that it will reliablysupport the weight of a body thereon and may be released so as tocollapse downwardly when or continued exercise of the legs and feetwhile in a sitting posture and possibly with the arms resting upon therests 41. Said arm rests, as shown are telescopically adjustablevertically for conveniently and comfortably adapting them to persons ofdifferent stature.

Wheel 46 is pivotally connected with member 42 at 59 and also yieldablyby a tension spring 6t) so as to normally urge the wheel leftwardly asshown in Fig. 7. Thus, when the seat 55 is not occupied, the auxiliaryunit is supported on surface S by wheels 45 and 46 with the brakeshoe'37on the bottom of member 42 held out of contact with surface S.

When, however, the weight of a patient is exerted on seat 55 member 42and shoe 37 are thrust downwardly and wheel 46 swings rightwardly asviewed in Fig. 7 so that the auxiliary unit is then supported on wheels45 and 46 and shoe 37, thereby retarding forward or backward movement ofthe unit.

It may be understood that both the main and auxiliary units hereinbeforedescribed maybe more of variable and complementary sizes to adapt themfor use of patients of different ages and sizes from infancy toadulthood.

A particular adaptation of the invention for use by infants and veryyoung children is illustrated in Figs. 10 to 12, inclusive and isarranged in the form of a mobile platform surrounded by skeleton framesto form a pen or enclosure which, depending upon its size serves tocontain toys and other nursery articles, helpless babies to preventinjury to them in unguarded intervals and foremostly means forsupporting an infant who is learning to walk by propelling the unit overa surface.

Like the previously described units in principle, but of different form,the infants unit includes a .set (four being shown) of swivelled pilotwheels 61, 61, etc., one of'which is mounted at each corner of the unitoutwardly of and below a central platform P on suitablefixtures 62, 62,etc., aflixed to diagonal bars 63, 63, etc., arranged at angles of apartand hinged at 64, 64, etc. Springs 65, 65, etc., are compressed betweensocket members 66, 66, etc., secured to bars 63 so as to urge the wheels61 into contact with a supporting surface S.

Platform P is surmounted by a pen formed by a'prcferably square wallformed by similarly or differently patterned sides as at 68, includingcorner posts 69 cross connected by slots or rungs 7%.

Each bar 63 may support a brake shoe 38 borne on a depending leg 71 at apoint beneath each post 69. The wheels 61 being located outwardly of thecorners of platform P it would be difficult if not quite impossible foran infant to overturn the unit by propulsive or downwardly appliedforce. Hence, an infant attempting to walk from a starting erect posturewith one of the rails or rungs 70 grasped in its hands could easily andsafely propel the unit forwardly. If in its progress the infant shouldtrip or stumble, or lurch forwardly the pressure applied to the superstructure in an attempt to recover balance would tend to depress thearea of the unit and one or more of the bars 63 would yield on its ortheir hinges 64, thereby ,moving corresponding brake shoes 38 downwardlyinto frictional contact with the supporting surface S and pre ventingmovement of the unit until such pressure is relieved.

Essentially, in each of the forms of unit shown it is apparent that thesame objects are attained and regardless of age or the particularinfirmity of a person requiring exercise necessary in therapeutics tocorrect deformities which can be accomplished by walking or attempts toi walk, one or another of said units can-be found effective.

I claim:

1. A therapeutic appliance comprising: amobilevunit having a frame withfront and rear traction wheels thereon, braking means normally supportedon said frame, out of contact with a supporting surface for said wheels,and guide means on said frame operatively connected with said brakingmeans, whereby when the weight of a user is applied to a portion of saidframe, said braking means will be moved into frictional contact. withsaid supporting surface to prevent movement of the unit until the forcesapplied there are relieved, said braking means including frictionalshoes mounted on said frame, between said front and rear tractionwheels, said guide means being pivotally attached to the front of saidframe and linked to said shoes so that pressure applied by a user tovtheguide member is effective'for rendering the shoes operative.

2. An appliance for supporting a person in a walking position: a framestructure having front and rear traction wheels thereon rollable along asupporting surface; brake means carried by said structure and adapted toengage the supporting surface; spring means operatively connected tosaid brake means and normally retaining said brake means elevated abovethe supporting surface; and supporting means carried by said structureand movable downwardly for engaging said brake means with the surfaceagainst the force of said spring means, said supporting means includinga handle bar having hand gripping portions for supporting the arms of aperson when in a substantially upright position to enable the weight ofsaid person to move said supporting means in a downward direction.

3. An appliance for supporting a person in a walking position: a framestructure having front and rear traction wheels thereon rollable along asupporting surface, said structure including spaced side members betweenwhich a person can stand and walk upon the surface; brake means carriedby said structure and adapted to engage the supporting surface; meansoperatively connected to said brake means and normally retaining saidbrake means elevated above the supporting surface; and means carried bysaid structure and adapted to support a portion of a persons body whenin a substantially upright position between said side members forengaging said brake means with the surface against the action of saidretain ing means.

4. An appliance for supporting a person in a walking position: a forwardframe portion and a rearward frame portion; said forward frame portionhaving spaced Wheels thereon rollable along a supporting surface; saidrearward frame portion having spaced wheels thereon rollable upon thesurface; said forward portion including a pair of spaced side members;said rearward portion including a pair of spaced side members betweenwhich a person can stand and walk upon the surface; said lastmentionedpair of side members being pivotally connected to said first-mentionedside members; brake means carried by one of said frame portions andadapted to engage the supporting surface; means operatively connected tosaid brake means and normally retaining said brake means elevated abovethe supporting surface; and means mounted on one of said frame portionsand connected to said brake means and adapted to support a portion of apersons body when in a substantially upright position between saidrearward spaced side members for engaging said brake means with thesurface against the action of said retaining means.

5. An appliance for supporting a person in a walking position: a forwardframe portion and a rearward frame portion; said forward frame portionhaving spaced wheels thereon rollable along a supporting surface; saidrearward frame portion having spaced wheels thereon rollable upon thesurface; said forward portion including a pair of spaced side members;said rearward portion including a pair of spaced side members betweenwhich a person can stand and walk upon the surface; said last-mentionedpair of side members being pivotally connected to said first-mentionedside members; brake means secured to said forward frame portion andadapted to engage the supporting surface; spring means between saidforward and rearward frame portions and normally retaining said brakemeans elevated above the supporting surface; and means connected to saidforward portion and adapted to support a portion of a persons body whenin a substantially upright position between said rearward spaced sidemembers for depressing said forward frame portion to engage said brakemeans with the supporting surface against the force of said springmeans.

6. An appliance for supporting a person in a walking position: a forwardframe portion and a. rearward frame portion; said forward frame portionhaving spaced wheels thereon reliable along a supporting surface; saidrearward frame portion having spaced wheels thereon rollable upon thesurface; said forward portion including a pair of spaced side members;said rearward portion including a pair of spaced side members betweenwhich a person can stand and walk upon the surface; said lastmentionedpair of side members being pivotally connected to said first-mentionedside members; brake means secured to one of said frame portions andadapted to engage the supporting surface; spring means between saidforward and rearward frame portions and normally retaining said brakemeans elevated above the supporting surface; and means connected to oneof said frame portions and adapted to support a portion of a personsbody when in a substantially upright position between said rearwardspaced side members for depressing said frame portions to engage saidbrake means with the supporting surface against the force of said springmeans.

7. An appliance for supporting a person in a walking position: a forwardframe portion and a rearward frame portion; said forward frame portionhaving spaced wheels thereon rollable along a supporting surface; saidrearward frame portion having spaced wheels thereon rollable upon thesurface; said forward portion including a pair of spaced side members;said rearward portion including a pair of spaced side members betweenwhich a person can stand and walk upon the surface; said last-mentionedpair of side members being pivotally connected to said first-mentionedside members; brake means secured to said forward frame portion andadapted to engage the supporting surface; spring means between saidforward and rearward frame portions and normally retaining said brakemeans elevated above the supporting surface; an operating structurepivotally connected to the front and rear parts of said forward frameportion and inclined upwardly and rearwardly; said operating structurehaving an upper portion adapted to support the upper limbs of a personstanding between said rearward spaced side members, whereby a portion ofsaid persons weight can depress the rear part of said forward frameportion and engage said brake means with the supporting surface againstthe force of said spring means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,967,332 Smith July 24, 1932 2,182,915 Connolly Dec. 12, 1939 2,314,478Brower Mar. 23, 1943 2,556,121 Thomas June 5, 1951 2,590,382 DanielsonMar. 25, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 13,820 Great Britain 1891

